Cleaning apparatus



F. M. SAPAYD 2,169,620

CLEANING APPARATUS Aug. 15, 1939.

2 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed Feb. 6, 1936 21 20 7 [V 11 y Z51 v v 3 10 v 3 1 if W Filed Feb. 6', 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 15, 1939.

M x A M I a 2771M? M fill/4% @571 Patented Aug. 15, 1939 ilNl'lED s'rres PATET GFEQE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to cleaning apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for cleaning pipe coils and the like.

One object of the invention is the provision of a. cleaning apparatus constructed as a portable unit, and of simple and comparatively cheap con.- struction and well-adapted for the effective cleaning of the interior of beer coils and the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cleaning apparatus embodying a pump adapted to force cleaning liquid received from, a container, supplying the liquid to conduits which extend to a pipe or a coil that is to be cleaned, a reversing valve being provided between the pump and the conduits so that the direction of flow through the pipe to be cleaned can. be instantaneously reversed during the continued opera tion of the pump.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cleaning apparatus; and the method of cleaning pipe coils and the like, whereby cleaning fluid is forced at comparatively high speed through the coil or pipe to be cleaned, and the direction of flow is instantaneously reversed in order to tear loose scales and deposits'that may be present on the inside of the pipe or coil treated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a cleaning unit embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end View of the cleaning unit;

Fig. 3 is a detail of the reversing valve and its connections, shown partly in. central vertical section;

' Fig. 4 is a View showing how the cleaning unit is connected during a cleaning operation; and

Fig. 5 is a section through the valve taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings by reference numerals, the cleaning apparatus of the present invention, is herein shown as a portable unit embodying a pump, a container and a pump driving means, supported on a suitable frame, and having suitable conduits and valve means so that the apparatus can be readily connected to a coil or a pipe, such as a beer coil or coils, and can clean the beer coil by the flow of cleaning liquid.v More particularly, the apparatus comprises a framework or base member I!) supporting an electric motor I I and a liquid pump i2, preferably a centrifugal pump, the latter being connected through a suitable coupling device l3 so that it will be driven by the motor. The

motor is provided with a suitable connection is including a connecting plug I5 that is adapted to be inserted in any suitable electrical outlet, for the energization of the motor.

The pump l2 receives cleaning liquid from a 5 container ll. As shown, the container is mounted directly on. the inlet passage 18 of the pump. The upper end of the container may be open so that several quarts of water with suitable cleaning material can be readily supplied. The pump outlet 20 extends to a valve 2|, which may be carried by the outlet pipe of the pump as shown. Extending from the valve 2| is a return line, preferably a flexible rubber hose 22, the upper end of which is adapted to be inserted in a l hollow tube extension'23 arranged at the upper end of the container IT. A securing means such as a hook 22' movably mounted on the hose is adapted for engagement with a stud on the hosereceiving tube 23 as shown, to prevent accidental 2O removal of the hose. However the hose 22 can be readily withdrawn from the tubular extension 23 in order that the fluid can be discharged to drain.

There are also two fluid conduits 24 and 25, 25 one end of each of these conduits being con.- nected, as, shown in Fig. 3, to the valve 2!. The other end of these conduits are provided with suitable: connecting members 26 whereby these conduits can be readily attached to the faucets of a pair of beer coils in. such a Way as to provide a substantially water-tight attachment.

The two conduits 2.4 and 25 can be connected, as shown in Fig. 4. for example, to the two faucets 28 and 29 of a pair of beer coils 30 and SI. The other ends of these coils extend to tap rods 32 and 33 which, during normal usage, extend into the two kegs 34 and 35. However when the coils are to be cleaned, the tap rods are withdrawn and their ends are inserted into a common connecting casing. 36, the threaded ends of which are then tightened to provide a suitable seal by compressing the packing material 38. Thus the ends of the tap rods are connected together in, a liquidtight manner. can be separated from the tap rods and connected directly together. A suitable quantity of cleaning or sterilizing substance, for example alkaline sodium phosphate with sodium hypochlorite, is then placed in the water in container I! and the electric motor is started. This will cause the pump to force the cleaning liquid through the outlet pipe 20 and into the passages in and ii of the valve casing 42, as shown in Fig. 3. The

' returning liquid which comes back to the con- 55 Or, if desired, the coils 30 and 3! tainer l1 through the return hose 22 serves to keep the material in the container well agitated.

Reciprocally mounted in the valve casing is a valve plug 43, so arranged as to provide communication between the passage 40 and the conduit 24, or between the passage 4t, and the conduit 25, depending upon the position of the valve plug 43. Extending along one side of the plug is a slot 43 which permits flow of fluid from one end chamber to the other during endwise movement of the valve plug for relieving the pressure that would otherwise be created. In its position shown in Fig. 3, the valve plug 43 is at its extreme right-hand position, providing free communication from the outlet of the pump to the conduit 24 so that fluid supplied from the pump will pass in the direction of the full-lined arrows, returning through the conduit 25 and through the return passage 44 to the common return line 22 which is always connected either to the connection 24 or to the connection 25. The length of the valve plug 43 is such that it is impossible to entirely close the passage from the outlet of the pump to either of the connections 24 or 25 before slightly opening the other connection, in order that an instantaneous overload will not be applied to the pump or to the motor during reversing movements of the valve.

As will be noted from Fig. 3, the passage 44 which places either the connection 24 or the connection 25 in communication with the hose 22 is sufficiently long so that when the valve plug 43 is exactly centered, and there is communication from the passage 40 to both connections 24 and 25 around the ends of the valve plug, the outlet connection 22 will be in communication with both of these two connections 24 and 25. The distance from the end of the passage 44 in the valve 43 to the end of the cylindrical portion of the valve plug is less than the distance across the openings from the body of the valve 2|. Thus when the valve body is exactly centered, there is no flow taking place through either of the connections 24 or 25 and the liquid will therefore remain stationary in the apparatus to be cleaned although the pump continues operating, forcing the fluid through the passage 40 and around the ends of the valve plug and out through discharge line 22. This does not put a strain upon the pump when the valve is centered, or when the valve is moving from one end position to another.

The valve plug 43 is connected to a handle 45, which can be operated, preferably manually, to provide for an instantaneous reversal of the direction of flow through the pipes that are being cleaned. The flow is then in the direction shown by the dotted arrows. Thus after pipe coils 30 and 3! are filled with the cleaning liquid, and after the motor has been operating for a minute or two, circulating the liquid in one direction, the handle 46 is moved to reverse the direction of flow, without stopping the motor or the pump, and without requiring the making or breaking of any pipe connections. The direction of flow is reversed several times, at about one-half minute intervals, and this is preferably followed by a few rapid reversals effected by moving the handle 46 rather rapidly from one end of its travel to the other. The result is that the cleaning liquid loosens all deposits and scales that may be found on the inside of the coils 30 and 3!, the sterilizing agent in the water killing and removing any bacteria that may be present. The cleaning liquid flows very rapidly through the pipes, at a speed, for example, of the order of seven hundred feet per minute, the change in direction of the flow insuring the loosening of all deposits and scaly matter from the inner sides of the pipes and also from the crevices that are present at the ends of the pipes where they are connected to other couplings or attachments.

After a few minutes, all the scales and deposits on the pipes will be loosened, and the flowing liquid will carry these deposits along with it. The end of the return line 22 can then be withdrawn from the container I1, during the continued operation of the motor, so as to provide for the discharge of the liquid to drain. A suitable amount of clean water is preferably then passed through the pipes. This clean water is supplied to the tank I7 and the continued operation of the pump forces the rinse water through the system. During the rinsing operation the valve is reversed two or three times to dislodge any material that may be caught in the coils or at the pipe connections.

As will also be noted the apparatus is provided as a complete portable unit, adapted to be readily transported from one place to another and adapted to readily connect to an electric source and to the pipes and coils that are to be cleaned. The frame I is preferably provided with a single handle 58, arranged at the upper end of a pair of upwardly extending metal straps and 52 that are connected by means of attaching plates 53 to the frame or base In, the handle 50 being preferably arranged above and in line with the center of gravity of the entire unit.

While the method herein described, and the form of apparatus for carrying this method into effect, constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise method and form of apparatus, and that changes may be made in either without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A portable unit for cleaning pipe coils and the like comprising, in combination, a rotary liquid pump having a housing provided with an inlet at the top thereof and an outlet below the top, electric drive means for said pump, a fluid container having a bottom wall mounted directly on the pump inlet at the top of the pump with the interior of said container in direct communication with the interior of the pump, a plurality of conduits adapted for connection to a pipe to be cleaned, valve means carried by said pump and arranged between the pump outlet and said conduits for instantaneously reversing the direction of flow through said conduits during continued operation of the pump, said valve means being arranged at a side of the pump in spaced relation with respect to the bottom of the container and removable from the pump Without disturbing the connection between the container and the pump, a fluid return line extending from said valve means for returning fluid from one of said conduits to said container, and a common supporting frame for said electric drive means and pump.

2. A portable unit for cleaning pipe coils and the like comprising, in combination, a rotary liquid pump having a housing provided with an inlet at the top thereof and an outlet below the top at the side of the pump housing, electric drive means for said pump, a fluid container having a bottom wall mounted directly on the pump inlet at the top of the pump with the interior of said container in direct communication with the interior of the pump, a plurality of conduits adapted for connection to a pipe to be cleaned, valve means carried by the pump outlet and arranged between the pump outlet and said conduits for instantaneously reversing the direction of flow through said conduits during continued operation of the pump, said valve means being arranged at a side of the pump in spaced relation with respect to the bottom of the container and removable from the pump without disturbing the connection between the container and the pump, a flexible hose extending from said valve means and having a free end which can be quickly inserted in and withdrawn from the container for returning fluid from one of said conduits to said container, and a common supporting frame for said electric drive means and pump.

3. A portable unit for cleaning pipe coils and the like comprising, in combination, a rotary liquid pump having a housing provided with an inlet at the top thereof and an outlet below the top at the side of the pump housing, electric drive means for said pump, a fluid container having a bottom wall mounted directly on the pump inlet at the top of the pump with the interior of said container in direct communication with the interior of the pump, a plurality of conduits adapted for connection to a pipe to be cleaned, valve means carried by the pump outlet and arranged between the pump outlet and said conduits for instantaneously reversing the direction of flow through said conduits during continued operation of the pump, said valve means being arranged at a side of the pump in spaced relation with respect to the bottom of the container and removable from the pump without disturbing the connection between the container and the pump, said valve means having passages opening communication from the pump outlet to one of the' conduits before closing the connection to the other conduit, a flexible hose extending from said valve means and having a free end which can be quickly inserted in and withdrawn from the container for returning fluid from one of said conduits to said container, and a common supporting frame for said electric drive means and pump.

FRED M. SPAYD. 

